Grassroots Voices Urge Clark County Legislators to Oppose “Right to Camp” Law
HB 1380, approved by the House Housing Committee on a 9-8 vote, would restrict local government’s ability to regulate and ban public camping and give public campers the right to file lawsuits against cities
Vancouver – Clark County Matters has sent a letter to the # state lawmakers who represent all or portions of Clark County urging them to oppose HB 1380, a state “right to camp” law which was approved last week by one vote by the House Housing committee. The proposed law would restrict local government’s ability to regulate or ban camping in public places. The legislation is modeled on a similar bill introduced in Oregon in 2023 that sparked a public backlash and was ultimately not even given a public hearing.
“Seattle and Olympia legislators have passed this dangerous legislation that would normalize and legalize tent cities in Clark County and across Washington state. Clark County legislators have the power to kill this bill, and we urge them to do everything they can to oppose it,” said Amy Harris with Clark County Matters.
Since launching in July 2024, Clark County Matters has built community of grassroots activists pushing local and state elected officials to take stronger action to end unsheltered homelessness and ban public camping county-wide and in cities across Clark County. They are currently activating Clark County residents to contact state lawmakers to oppose HB 1380.